Dolphus tokbey



(No Model.) 3. Shears-Sheet 1.

I D. TORREY.

GARVBRAKE. Nd.'276,935. PatentedMay 1,1883.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. TORREY.

GAR BRAKE;

No. 276',935. 4 Patented May-1,1883.

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' (No Modei.) l s Sheets-Sheet s. DgTORREY.

0A3 BRAKE.

N0. 276,935. Patented May 1,1883.

Inn/e206 or; .ZoZyoZmas Zorrqy N. PETERS. Pnommno n rwr, Washinglon. D. c,

, .NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOLPHUS TORREY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,935, dated May 1, 1883.

Application filed January 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, DOLPHUS TORREY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Brakes for Railroad-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of brake apparatus in which the brakes are operated by the recoil of a spring, which working-spring is constrained by a stress transmitted from another-a receiving-spring, and which receivin g-sprin g preferably receives its constraining energy from the draw-bar or buffer of the car; but it may be received from the hand-brake shaft or an air-pressure cylinder. The two springs are set so as to expand or retract in opposite directions, and with attached devices whereby the receiving-spring, in recoiling,

draws the working-spring into a constrained condition, and the working-spring, when recoilv ing, draws on the brakes. The brakes remain on until the working-spring is again constrained. The two springs are held constrained by a catclnthe tripping of which is controlled by appropriate mechanisms, so thatthe operator lets free either the receiving or working spring, as demanded by the condition of the parts to effect the action which may be desired. In the line of chain or rod connecting the receiving-spring with the source of energy for operating the apparatus is placed a device called a releasing-clutch, the preferable form of which includes a shaft having a crank at one end, upon which shaft is fastened a ratchetwheel. Over this ratchet-wheel is a loose pulley, which carries one or more pawls for engaging with the ratchet, and a spring fastened one end to the pulley and the other to a hanger or pillow-block. The chain from the motor is wound upon this pulley, and may be attached to the pulley-face or to an arm extending out from it. The chain from the receiving-spring is attached to the end of the crank upon the shaft. The purpose of this releasing mechanism is to permit the recoil of the receivingspring while the chain extending to the motor is under stress. The dimensions and proportions of the pulley and crank are such that the greatest movementof the motor-chain effects less than a full revolution ofthe shaft and crank, while a half-revolution of the crank draws the receiving-spring into position to be held confined by its catch. The crank is set so that the movement of the motor begins with the crank at its center nearest the spring. The pull of the motor-chain carries the crank past its farther ceuterin position to be rotated forward by the pull of the receiving-spring, withoutcommunicatin g any stress to the motorchain,owin g to the escape of the ratchet-wheel by its pawls. The purpose ofthe arm extended out from the pulley is to enlarge the sweep of the motor-chain and prevent its rotating the crank past its center. Whatever motor mechanism is selected, the action of the motor is transmitted to the receiving-sprin g, and effects its constraint and confinement by a catch which can be tripped either automatically or otherwise,and thereby secure the withdrawal and confinementof the working-spring with the consequent taking off of the brakes. As before stated, this working-spring is also held by a catch which may be tripped by automatic or other means to apply the brakes. The catch holding the springs in confinement is controlled by a vibrating latch. This latch is acted upon by a spring that tends to keep it at one side of its swing, and by a tension-cord or electro-magnet which acts in opposition to the spring. The position of the latch is determined by the stronger of these opposing stresses. When in one position it allows the escape of the working-spring and the consequent application of the brakes. When in the other position, provided the working-spring is already released,it allowsthe escape of the receiving-spring and the consequent release of the brakes and resetting of the workin g-sprin g. The receiving and working springs may act by expansion or contraction as applied in the construction of the apparatus. These springs may act against levers, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,0r they may be shaped so that their ends may serve as levers, as in Fig. 4. The use of levers as shown in the drawings is preferred to an arrangement without them, although forms of 'the'apparatus have been designed wherein the pull of the spring is direct through a rod connected to a followingplate acted upon by a coiled spring.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the principal working parts of the apparatus. Fig. 2 shows the levers its farther center, draws the receiving-lever 1- 6o from said pulley.

pivoted between the springs and the catch and one method of coupling the levers. Fig. 3 shows the springs between the levers and between their pivots and the catch. Fig. 4

.shows the lever-arms formed in one with the springs. Fig. 5 shows a side view of the end of the catch with the location of the notch in which the-latch is placed. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, on a larger scale, of a device introduced in the line of connection between the draw-bar or other motor and the receiving'spring to set said spring and instantly release it from the motor connection, lea-ving it under control of its own catch. Fig. 7 is a view of one face of the releasing device.

Fig. 8 is a view of the other face thereof, the

hanger by which the device is supported being omitted in each case to expose the interior parts. Fig. 9 shows a plan View of the drawbar connection. Fig. 10 shows a side view of the chain-loop and its extension to the relcas ing device.

D represents the draw-bar, connected by a pit-' man,P, with the motor-lever L. The motor-1everis fulcrumed at land attached atits free end to a chain, 8, connecting the motor mechanism with the receiving lever or spring, as hereinafter described. The motor-chain 8 is formed with a loop passing over a pulley, 9, so that either an inward or outward movement of the draw=bar will apply a pull to the chain.

9 is a guide-strap confining the motor-lever in its plane of movement.

The motor-chain 8 is carried around a pulley, 88, and attached byits extremity toa wrist or pin, 92, on an arm, 91, projecting rigidly The pulley 88 turns on a shaft, 89, on which is keyed a ratchet-wheel, 95, Figs. 6 and 7. Pawls 96, pressed in by springs 9?, connect the pulley 88 with the shaft 89, so as to impart rotation to said shaft in one direction. On one end of the shaft 89 is fixed a crank-arm, 90, to the wrist or pin 91 the pulley 88 and at the other end by a pin,

99, to the hanger 10, restores the arm 91 and pulley 88 to their normal position when released by the relaxation of the motor-chain 8. It will now be seen that the pull on the chain 8 caused by a movement of the draw-bar in either direction will, by acting on the periphery of the pulley 88, impart a quick rotation to the shaft 89, and subsequently, by acting on the extremity of the arm 91, will rotate the shaft with reduced speed and greater power. One halfrevolution of the shaft, carrying the arm 90 to under strain to the position shown in Fig. 3, where it is held by the catch 2l, and the instant the said arm passes beyond its farther center it is, by the pawl-and-ratchet movement 9695, freed from constraint and allowed to complete its revolution by a continued movement whenever the lever l is released and draws the chain 8. The pawl-and-ratchet connection thus adapts and causes the crank, in passing its farther center, to be freed from control of the chain 8 and left free to be moved by the chain 8.

5is'agrappling-link which connectsthe working-lever 2 with the receiving one, and is made to pull the Working-spring 1 into restraint when the receiving-lever is freed from its restraint. This device may have various shapes, but has always the functional relation in connection with the draw-bar motor that it does not restrict the near approach of the two le-. vers, but does prevent their undue separation. 5 is a pin or stop, over which the slot 5 moves.

1 2 are spring-bolts set in the ends of the levers 1 2, being confined by pins 1 2 and pressed out by the springs 1 2.

21 is the tripping-catch which holds the re-' In the outer end of the arm 21 of the catch is a cross-slot which may be covered by a cap. This cross-slot is made diagonal, so as to have a sharp engaging corner for contact with the latch 28. This latch is pivoted at 29, and is under stress by the spring 37, (that presses against the stop 37,) and at determined times by the elcctro-magnet 36. As shown in the drawings, when the magnet is acting (or when the spring-bolt 52' is drawn by the cord 51 and hand-lever 50) the latch 28 is held so that the tooth 30 upon the catch-arm is engaged with the notch 30. upon the latch, and when the magnet is idle, (and ICC the spring-bolt released,) then the spring 37 forces the latch over and in position to engage I the tooth 31 with the notch 31 of the latch.

In order that the pressure of the workinglcver 2 against the catch 21 may overcome that of the receiving-lever 1, although the receiving-lever spring 1 -is necessarily of greater strength than the working-lever spring 2 the face24, against which the working-lever2 bears, is less abrupt than the face 33, on which the receiving-lever 1 bears; or the bolt of the working-lever may be shortened so as to bear with greater leverage on the detaining-catch. The hand-lever 50, cord 51, attached eccentrically thereto, and the spring-bolt 52 are employed to draw the latch 28 against the magnet whenever it is desired to take and keep the brakes off when the electric circuit isbroken, asin the case of a detached car. A spring, 53, retracts. the bolt 52, so as to leave the latch nnder control of the magnet whenever the handle 50' is turned down.

The operationof the apparatus is as follows:

, The lever 2 being in constraint by the catch 21,'the swing of the motor-lever L, by either i the compression or extension of the draw-bar,

causes a pull of the chain 8, which rotates the pulley 88, and turning of the crank 90. In

making a half-revolution this crank, through d ther center. The engaging faces of the springbolt 2 and of the catch 21 are sloped, so

that the catch is prevented from rotating by the stress of the receiving-lever 1, which ongages with straighter-faced slopes between its bolt and catch than is the case with the working-lever 2, it being so arranged to secure a reduced stress upon the catch from the stronger spring 1--'a stress which the weaker spring 2 can overpower when permitted to oscillate the catch for its escapement. The latch 28 is drawn out by the magnet 36, so that the latch and catch engage at 30 and 30. By breaking the magnetic current the latch drawn by the spring 37 releases the catch, and it turns and frees the working-lever 2, which recoils and applies the brakes through the chain or rod 20 and any usual or suitable system of brake-levers. Whenever the magnetic current is reestablished the latch which has been engaged at 31 and 3t lets free the catch, and it, under stress by the receiving-lever l. rotates and sets this lever free. It in recoiling pulls the working-lever 2 into constraint and takes the brakes off. The following swing of the 1 have their spring-bolt shoved in by their pressure against the outer slopes upon the catch arms, and without the necessity of swinging the catch-arms upon their pivot.

Some details of the apparatus herein shown and of devices adapted for use in connection therewith, I have described and claimed in another application of even date herewith.

Any novel features which I have described or shown and not claimed or attempted to claim in this application I have claimed or attempted to claim in the simultaneous application above referred to, or in earlier applications, or have reserved to be claimed in future original applications.

Having thus described my invention, the .following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A brake-actuating apparatus having two springs, one connected with the draw-bar or buffer, serving as an accumulator to receive and store power derived from the movement of the draw-bar or bulfer, the other receiving power from the first when this is released and holding such power to apply the brakes when itis itself released.

2. A pair of levers moved in opposite directions by springs, catching and tripping devices acting alternately on said levers to lock and release the same, a connection putting the spring of the first lever under strain by the movement of the draw-bar or buffer, a connection between the levers putting the spring connection from the second lever applying the brakes by the reverse movement thereof when released.

3. A releasing-clutch composed of a shaft bearing a crank and a ratchet, which ratchet, by engaging with apulley,-compels the shaft to rotate when the pulley is rotated by stress from the draw-bar or other source of power, and permits the crank to rotate independently of the pulley after it has passed its center.

4. The combination of the releasingclutch with a receiving-spring of a brake-actuating apparatus, substantially as set forth.

5. A brake apparatus having a receivingspringstrained by any suitable source ofpower, a Working-spring strainedby the recoil of the receiving-spring and serving to apply the brakes when released, and a catch controlled by a hand-cord for holding the working-spring under constraint.

DOLPHUS TORREY.

Witnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, L. M. HOPKINS. 

